Head Spinning, Yellow Bricks, and Offers You Can’t Refuse
With so many incredible movies out there, it’s hard to land on a handful of unforgettable scenes—but somehow, we managed it. From axes through doors to aliens through chests, here are our picks for some of the most iconic movie scenes ever.
1. Darth Vader’s Big Reveal, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
As if Luke’s journey wasn’t stressful enough, it’s gotta be hard hearing that the main antagonist was holding out on your lineage. It wasn’t enough to take his hand off, either; Vader just had to drop one of the biggest plot twists in all of cinema, too.
2. Omaha Beach, Saving Private Ryan
It’s a brutal, gut-wrenching scene that went down in history—and it never let us forget history, either. Everything from the puking, trembling soldiers to the unspeakable devastation of what came next encapsulated the horrors of Omaha Beach, and it’s so accurate that many veterans found the whole thing triggering.
3. The Shower Scene, Psycho
Though it seems a little corny by today’s standards, poor Marion’s untimely demise left ‘60s audiences completely stunned. Between Hitchcock’s masterful suspense to the iconic soundtrack, it’s an unforgettable scene from one of horror’s best.
4. “Here’s Looking at You, Kid,” Casablanca
Casablanca is already one of the best classic movies, but Rick and Ilsa’s heartbreaking goodbye would’ve been remembered on its own. Rick’s parting words not only carried a lot of wisdom but also spoke to the nature of his selfless character, and it’s such a great scene that movies today can’t help referencing it.
Unknown author, distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures on Wikimedia
5. Regan’s Head Spin, The Exorcist
Nothing, and we mean nothing, could've prepared audiences for this. Between all the eerie coincidences on set and the blasphemous controversy, Regan spun more than just her own head with this scene—you know you’re in for a real experience when people pass out in the theater.
6. Jack’s Mental Break, The Shining
The Shining is a masterclass in cinematography and brilliant performances, but perhaps most memorable is Jack’s final break. Set to an overwhelming swell of violin strings, we watch as Wendy tries to escape her terrifyingly calm husband…right before he delivers his signature line.
7. Final Dance, Dirty Dancing
Okay, let’s take a step away from the scary stuff. We know these two lovebirds were anything but behind the scenes, but Grey and Swayze still managed to give us the greatest climax to their story. You know what? We did have the time of our lives.
heine(ken) from Oslo, Norway on Wikimedia
8. Andy Breaks Out, The Shawshank Redemption
Who knew opening a box of shoes would sound literal alarms? There’s nothing better than watching an innocent man get justice, and audiences all but tore their shirts off with Andy in solidarity with his freedom.
9. Neo Dodges Fire, The Matrix
Sorry—nothing will ever be cooler than this scene. The Matrix brought a lot of interesting, revolutionary ideas to the table (before the franchise cannibalized itself), and watching Neo dodge bullet after bullet in slow-motion was unlike anything we’d seen before.
Jamie Zawinski (program); Church of emacs (screenshot) on Wikimedia
10. Don Corleone, The Godfather
What better way to introduce a character? It’s hard to believe that a calm, elderly man petting his cat could be so menacing, but Don Corleone controls the room. You instantly learn about his power, his family, and just how far people are willing to go to stay on his good side.
11. Incoming Chestburster, Alien
Well, that’s one way to make an entrance. It’s one way to nauseate audiences for decades, too! Who could forget that peaceful meal crudely interrupted by John Hurt’s incredible performance? He laughed, he writhed, he devastated all of us when that thing finally burst out of his chest.
Hossam el-Hamalawy on Wikimedia
12. Follow the Yellow Brick Road, The Wizard of Oz
There’s no shortage of memorable scenes from this flick, but none stand out more than the yellow brick road. Off Dorothy goes for the adventure of a lifetime, accompanied by a beloved song and those ruby red slippers—and her little dog, too.
13. “Nobody’s Perfect,” Some Like it Hot
In the face of revelations, no one kept their cool quite like Osgood. Can’t have children? Time to adopt. Not a natural blonde? No problem. You’re a smoker? He doesn't care. Wait…what’s that? You’re actually Jack Lemmon in a wig on the run from the police? Well, nobody’s perfect!
Ashton Productions, The Mirisch Corporation on Wikimedia
14. “You Talkin’ to Me?” Taxi Driver
Even if you’ve never seen Taxi Driver, you’ve undoubtedly heard the tough-guy speech De Niro delivers to his mirror. He’s mean, he’s ready to take on the streets, and he’s practiced exactly what he’s going to say. It’s such an iconic monologue that seemingly no movie could go without its own parody.
15. Rose is Flying, Titanic
Okay, so Rose wasn’t actually flying, but we certainly felt that way watching her and Jack embark on their once-in-a-lifetime romance. Before tragedy struck and Rose hogged the door to herself, we got this incredible scene set to Celine Dion’s greatest hit.
16. Flying Bicycles, E.T. the Extraterrestrial
Steven Spielberg wasn’t messing around with this coming-of-age flick. It made us laugh, it made us cry, and it made us watch in awe as E.T. and Elliot soared through the moonlight on their bike. We have John Williams to thank for such an amazing scene, too.
17. Pottery Lessons, Ghost
Patrick Swayze strikes again, this time as a hearthrob husband in the garage with his wife. Okay, yeah, it’s a little weird (and more than a little suggestive), but it’s an unforgettable scene people have remembered for years.
18. The Montage, Rocky
In a montage to end all montages, Rocky’s original training got audiences pumped like never before. We were all rooting for him and, had we been there, would have joined him on his successful journey up the 72 steps. It’s okay, we’ll settle for second place.
19. Code Red, A Few Good Men
Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore are back on the list, too. This explosive scene finally got to the truth of that code red, and even though Jessep didn’t think we could handle it, we could. The only thing we couldn’t handle was the tension in the room.
Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash
20. A Bigger Boat, Jaws
How could we not pay further homage to Spielberg’s beloved thriller, Jaws? It’s hardly a good thing when your gigantic mechanical shark keeps malfunctioning, but that mishap was the best thing to happen to this movie—we got a suspenseful introduction to one of the scariest villains around.
